Conductor section for a stator frame of a polyphase dynamoelectric machine

ABSTRACT

The conductor section is for a stator frame of a polyphase dynamoelectric machine. The stator frame is provided with a series of elongated parallel slots for receiving respectively conductor sections. The conductor section comprises two parallel conductor sides of substantially rectangular cross section adapted to fit respectively into two corresponding parallel slots of the stator frame, the two sides defining a plane; and at least one conductor head of substantially rectangular cross section, connecting two adjacent ends of the parallel sides. The head shows a substantially U-shaped body when seen from a top view perpendicular to the plane, and a waved-shape body when seen from a front view contained in the plane. The head having top and bottom surfaces facing only one side of the plane from one end of the head to the other end thereof. Methods for mounting conductor sections of stator winding onto a circular shaped stator frame are also described.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a stator of a dynamoelectric machine and to amethod for mounting at least one stator winding onto a circular shapedstator frame. More specifically, the invention relates to dynamoelectricmachine which can be a motor or a generator.

The machine can be provided with either inner rotor or outer rotor. Morespecifically, the invention relates to stator windings having conductorsof rectangular cross section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known in the art, there is the U.S. Pat. No. 3,453,468, granted on Jul.1, 1969 to W. W. Lund. In this patent, there is described a two-layerwinding arrangement for a dynamoelectric machine stator core having aplurality of coils wherein each phase group coils are series connectedand formed from a single continuous conductor and wherein each coilconsists of a single turn. The cross section of the conductor isrectangular so that the slots of the stator which are also rectangularcan be almost completely filled. This is not the case with conductorhaving a circular cross section. The drawback with this kind of machineis that the heads of the turn which are the part of the conductor thatforms a bridge from one slot to the other are quite big and long withrespect to the stator core. Because of that, the machine is heavier andthere is more heat loss.

Also known in the art, there are the following U.S. Pat. Nos.:

693,578

3,914,860

4,321,497

4,346,320

5,056,922

One drawback with all of the above mentioned patents is that none of theabove patents provides a stator for dynamoelectric machine with windingsof rectangular cross section, made of series connected multiple turnswhere each turns has heads which are substantially small with respect tothe stator core.

An object of the present invention is to provide a stator for adynamoelectric machine having windings of rectangular cross sectionwhere the heads of the turns of the stator windings are smaller than theones described in the prior art so that the dynamoelectric machine belighter and generate less heat when it is operating.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method formounting at least one stator winding onto a circular shaped stator frameof a dynamoelectric machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a conductorsection for a stator frame of a polyphase dynamoelectric machine, saidstator frame being provided with a series of elongated parallel slotsfor receiving respectively conductor sections, said conductor sectioncomprising:

two parallel conductor sides of substantially rectangular cross sectionadapted to fit respectively into two corresponding parallel slots ofsaid stator frame, said two sides defining a plane; and

at least one conductor head of substantially rectangular cross section,connecting two adjacent ends of said parallel sides, said head showing asubstantially U-shaped body when seen from a top view perpendicular tosaid plane, and a waved-shape body when seen from a front view containedin said plane, said head having top and bottom surfaces facing only oneside of said plane from one end of said head to the other end thereof.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a method formounting conductor sections of stator winding onto a circular shapedstator frame of a dynamoelectric machine, each of said conductorsections having two parallel conductor sides and at least one conductorhead connecting two adjacent ends of said parallel sides, said statorframe being provided with circumferentially distributed parallel slots,comprising steps of:

a) circumferentially positioning said conductor sections with respect tosaid stator frame, one conductor side of each conductor sectionimmediately facing one of said slots, the other conductor side of eachconductor section being disposed at a remote position from said statorframe; P1 b) after said step (a), inserting said one conductor side ofeach conductor section into the corresponding slot; and

c) inserting the other conductor side of each conductor section into another of said slots, which has already received one conductor side ofanother conductor section, until all of said sides are mounted in saidslots.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a method formounting conductor sections of a stator winding onto a circular shapedstator frame of a dynamoelectric machine, each of said conductorsections having two parallel conductor sides and at least one conductorhead connecting two adjacent ends of said parallel sides, said statorframe being provided with circumferentially distributed parallel slots,comprising steps of:

a) inserting one conductor side of each conductor section at leastpartially into a corresponding slot of said parallel slots;

b) positioning the other conductor side of each conductor section onebeside the other along said stator frame;

c) after said steps (a) and (b), circumferentially shifting said otherconductor sides with respect to said stator frame until said otherconductor sides are superimposed respectively above said one conductorsides for forming pairs of superimposed conductor sides; and

d) after said step (c), applying a force onto said other conductor sidesalong a radial direction of said circular stator frame for insertingsaid pairs of superimposed conductor sides completely into thecorresponding slots.

The objects, advantages and other features of the present invention willbecome more apparent upon reading up of the following non restrictivedescription of preferred embodiments thereof given for the purpose ofexemplification only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a conductor section according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the conductor section shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the conductor section shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of one conductor head of the conductor sectionshown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the conductor head shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the conductor head shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a plurality of conductorsections in combination with a stator frame in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the plurality of conductor sections incombination with a stator frame, shown in figure seven;

FIG. 9 is perspective view of an other conductor section in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the conductor section shown inFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a top view of one conductor head of the conductor sectionshown in FIGS. 9 and 10;

FIG. 12 is a front view of the conductor head shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a partial front perspective view of a plurality of conductorsections in combination with a stator frame in compliance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 14 is a back view of the plurality of conductors sections shown inFIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a front view of the plurality of conductor sections shown inFIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a perspective exploded view of a two part mould with aconductor section in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 17 is an electric circuit showing the connections of a plurality ofconductor sections;

FIGS. 18, 19, 20 and 21 are partial schematic side views of conductorsections with respect to a stator frame, showing different steps of amethod for mounting the conductor sections onto a circular shaped statorframe;

FIGS. 22, 23, 24 and 25 are partial schematic side views showingconductor sections with respect to a stator frame, illustrating thesteps of an other method for mounting conductor sections onto a circularshaped stator frame;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing the end of a conductor section inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a partial top view of a stator frame provided with conductorsections; and

FIG. 28 is a partial perspective view of what is shown in FIG. 27.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following description, similar elements are identified by thesame reference number in all the drawings. Referring now to FIGS. 1 to8, there is shown a conductor section 2 for a stator frame 4 of apolyphase dynamoelectric machine. The stator frame 4 is provided with aseries of elongated parallel slots for receiving respectively conductorsections as it is known in the art. The conductor section 2 comprisestwo parallel conductor sides 6 and 8 of substantially rectangular crosssection adapted to fit respectively into two corresponding parallelslots of the stator frame 4. The two sides 6 and 8 defines a plane whichis the plane of the sheet onto which FIG. 1 appears.

The conductor section 2 also comprises at least one conductor head 10 ofsubstantially rectangular cross section, connecting two adjacent ends ofthe parallel sides 6 and 8. More specifically the conductor section 2shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 has two conductor heads 10. The head 10 shows asubstantially U-shaped body when seen from a top view perpendicular tosaid plane, as shown in FIG. 4, and a waved-shape body generally in theform of a horizontally positioned S when seen from a front viewcontained in said plane, as shown in FIG. 5.

The head 10 has top and bottom surfaces 12 and 14 facing only one sideof the plane from one end of the head 10 to the other end thereof.

In the prior art, the windings of a motor is usually made of conductorsof circular cross section. With such conductors of circular crosssection, the filling of the slots into which the conductors are mounteddetermines a filling factor in the order of 50% to 55%. The efficiencyof the machine depends directly on this filling factor. To improve thefilling factor, a conductor of rectangular cross section is proposed.

In the prior art, motor windings made of conductors of rectangular crosssection are known but the heads of the coils mounted in the slots arequite big as it can be seen in FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,453,468.

To overcome the above mentioned problem, a conductor section having atleast one head as described above is proposed according to the presentinvention to obtain, at the same time, a conductor section having afilling factor in the order of 80% and a conductor section having aconductor head which is smaller than the conductor head of the priorart. With smaller heads it is possible to reduce the weight of materialwhich is usually copper, and the heat loss produced by the currentcirculating in the conductor. Also with smaller conductor heads it ispossible to obtain a narrower motor.

Preferably, the waved-shaped body of the head is asymmetrical.

Preferably, the conductor section 2 is constituted of at least one turnto form a coil. The heads 10 of one conductor section 2 are constitutedof two opposite heads located respectively at opposite ends of said twoparallel sides 6 and 8.

Preferably, each conductor section 2 comprises two connecting ends 16and 18 for connecting the conductor section 2 in series with otherconductor sections 2. The two connecting ends 16 and 18 of eachconductor section are formed at one of the heads thereof.

Preferably, each conductor section is constituted of several turns.

Referring now to FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, there are shown a plurality ofconductor sections 2 in combination with the stator frame 4. The statorframe 4 is a circular shaped stator frame provided withcircumferentially distributed parallel slots. The frame 4 has a surfaceadjacent to a rotor 3 of the machine when the machine is assembled. Theframe 4 is separated from the rotor by an air gap 5. Referring now morespecifically to FIG. 14, there is shown that the heads 10 of eachconductor section 2 has a portion projecting within said air gap.

Referring again to FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, the conductor sections 2 areconnected in series to form at least two stator windings. In the presentcase, there are three stator windings. The two sides of each conductorsection 2 are respectively fitted into two corresponding parallel slotsof the stator frame 4. Each head on the side of the machine shown inFIG. 14 allows the rotor 3 to be axially slidden with respect to thestator frame 4 when the machine is being assembled.

Preferably, the slots have substantially rectangular cross sections.

Preferably, the slots are outer circumferentially distributed parallelslots, and consequently the surface of the stator frame 4, adjacent tothe rotor 3 is an outer peripheral surface so that the rotor 3 isdisposed around the stator frame 4 when the machine is assembled.

Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8 and 17, preferably the stator windingscomprise three stator windings so that the machine is a three phasemachine.

It can be seen that the conductor sections are electrically connected inseries to obtain three stator windings. Accordingly, each of the headshas its two sides disposed three slots away from each other.

Referring now more specifically to FIG. 17, preferably, the stator frameis provided with ninety six slots. The conductors are numbered 1 to 96.The numbers 94, 95 and 96 appearing in the left-hand side of the figureindicate connections with conductors 94, 95 and 96 appearing in theright-hand side. Similarly, the numbers 1, 2 and 3 appearing on theright-hand side indicate connections with conductors 1, 2 and 3appearing in the left-hand side. A', B', and C' indicates a neutralconnection point of windings in a star configuration; A, B and Cindicate terminals where the supply voltages are applied. The threestator windings are supplied by a three phase voltage A, B and C.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 to 15, preferably, there is shown that eachconductor section 2 comprises two connecting ends 16 and 18 forconnecting it in series with other conductor sections 2. The twoconnecting ends 16 and 18 of each conductor section 2 are formedrespectively at the two opposite heads thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 16, there is shown a two part mould 22 for formingone head 10 of the conductor section 2 so that each head 10 showssubstantially an U-shaped body, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 11, and awaved-shape body, as seen in FIGS. 5 and 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 18 to 21, there is shown a method for mountingconductor sections 2 of stator winding onto a circular shaped statorframe 4 of a dynamoelectric machine. Each of the conductor sections 2has two parallel conductor sides 6 and 8. Two opposite conductor headsconnect respectively the two adjacent ends of the parallel sides 6 and8. The stator frame 4 is provided with circumferentially distributedparallel slots.

The method comprises steps of (a) circumferentially positioning theconductor sections 2 with respect to the stator frame 4, as shown inFIG. 18, one conductor side 8 of each conductor section 2 immediatelyfacing one slot of the frame 4, the other conductor side 6 of eachconductor section 2 being disposed at a remote position from said statorframe 4; after step (a), (b) inserting one conductor side 8 of eachconductor section 2 into the corresponding slot, as shown in FIG. 19;and (c) inserting the other conductor side 6 of each conductor section 2into another slot, which has already received one conductor side 8 ofanother conductor section 2, as shown in FIG. 20, until all of saidsides 6 and 8 are mounted in the slots of the frame 4, as shown in FIG.21.

Preferably, in step (a), the conductor sections 2 are positioned, oneafter the other, starting from one point and moving sequentially alongthe stator frame 4.

Preferably, in step (b), the sides 8 of the conductor sections 2 areinserted, one after the other, starting from one point and movingsequentially along the stator frame 4. Preferably, in step (c), eachhead has its two sides 6 and 8 disposed three slots away from eachother.

Referring now to FIG. 26, there is shown a conductor section 2 made ofseveral adjacent and parallel conductors 30 of rectangular crosssection.

Referring now to FIGS. 22 to 25, there is shown another method formounting conductor sections 2 of a stator winding onto a circular shapedstator frame 4 of a dynamoelectric machine, each conductor section 2 hastwo parallel conductor sides 6 and 8, and two opposite conductor headsconnecting respectively two adjacent ends of the parallel sides 6 and 8.The stator frame 4 is provided with circumferentially distributedparallel slots.

The method comprises steps of (a) inserting one conductor side 8 of eachconductor section 2 at least partially into a corresponding slot of theframe 4, as shown in FIG. 22; (b) positioning the other conductor side 6of each conductor section 2 one beside the other along said statorframe, as shown in FIG. 23; (c) after said steps (a) and (b),circumferentially shifting the other conductor sides 6 with respect tothe stator frame 4, as shown in FIG. 24, until they are superimposedrespectively above the conductor sides 8 for forming pairs ofsuperimposed conductor sides 6 and 8; and (d) after said step (c),applying a force 32 onto the conductor sides 6 along a radial directionof the circular stator frame 4 for inserting the pairs of superimposedconductor sides 6 and 8 completely into the corresponding slots.

Steps (c) and (d) of the method are performed by means of a crown-shapedassembly 34 having along its periphery a series of adjacent members 36movable along radial direction when a force is applied by means ofpistons 38.

Referring now to FIGS. 27 and 28, there are shown a plurality ofconductor sections 2 in combination with the stator frame 4. The statorframe 4 is a circular shaped stator frame 4 provided withcircumferentially distributed parallel slots. The frame 4 has a surfaceadjacent to the rotor 3 of the machine when it is assembled. The frame 4is separated from the rotor 3 by an air gap. The plurality of conductorsections 2 is connected in series to form at least two stator windings.The two sides of each conductor section 2 are respectively fitted intotwo corresponding parallel slots of the stator frame 4. Each conductorsection 2 is constituted of at least one turn to form a coil. Eachconductor section 2 comprises two opposite heads 10 located respectivelyat opposite ends of the two parallel sides. Each conductor section 2comprises two connecting ends 16 and 18 connecting via connectingcontacts 19 the conductor sections 2 in series, each connecting contact19 being equidistant from the two corresponding conductor sections 2.The two connecting ends 16 and 18 of each conductor section are formedat only one corresponding head 10 thereof.

Although, the present invention has been explained hereinabove by way ofa preferred embodiments thereof, it should point out that anymodifications to these preferred embodiments, within the scope of theappended claims is not deemed to change or alter the nature and scope ofthe invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A conductor section fora stator frame of a polyphase dynamoelectric machine, said stator framebeing provided with a series of elongated parallel slots for receivingrespectively conductor sections, said conductor section comprising:twoparallel conductor sides of substantially rectangular cross sectionadapted to fit respectively into two corresponding parallel slots ofsaid stator frame, said two parallel conductor sides defining a plane;and at least one conductor head of substantially rectangular crosssection, connecting two adjacent ends of said two parallel conductorsides, said at least one conductor head showing a substantially U-shapedbody when seen from a top view perpendicular to said plane, and awaved-shape body generally in the form of a horizontally positioned Swhen seen from a front view contained in said plane, said at least oneconductor head having top and bottom opposite surfaces, the top surfacefacing only one side of the plane and the bottom surface facing only anopposite side thereof.
 2. A conductor section according to claim 1,wherein said waved-shaped body is asymmetrical.
 3. A plurality ofconductor sections according to claim 1, in combination with said statorframe, wherein:said stator frame is a circular shaped stator frame andsaid parallel slots provided therewith are circumferentiallydistributed, said frame having a surface adjacent to a rotor of saidmachine when said machine is assembled, said frame being separated fromsaid rotor by an air gap, said at least one conductor head having aportion projecting outwardly and radially with respect to a rotationaxis of the rotors within a cylindrical volume defined by acircumference of the air gap, to allow said rotor to be axially sliddenwith respect to said stator frame when said machine is being assembled;said plurality of conductor sections being connected in series to format least two stator windings, the two parallel conductor sides of eachconductor section being respectively fitted into two correspondingparallel slots of said stator frame, said portion of said at least oneconductor head projecting within said air gap along a distance inferiorto the width thereof to allow said rotor to be axially slidden withrespect to said stator frame when said machine is being assembled.
 4. Aplurality of conductor sections in combination with said stator frame,according to claim 3, wherein said parallel slots have substantiallyrectangular cross sections.
 5. A plurality of conductor sections incombination with said frame, according to claim 3, wherein said at leasttwo stator windings comprise three stator windings so that said machineis a three phase machine.
 6. A plurality of conductor sections incombination with said frame, according to claim 3, wherein said parallelslots are outer circumferentially distributed parallel slots, and saidsurface adjacent to said rotor is an outer peripheral surface so thatsaid rotor is disposed around said stator when said machine isassembled.
 7. Conductor section according to claim 1, wherein:saidconductor section includes at least one turn forming a coil; and said atleast one conductor head includes two opposite heads locatedrespectively at opposite ends of said two parallel conductor sides. 8.Conductor section according to claim 7, comprising two connecting endsfor connecting said conductor section in series with other conductorsections, said two connecting ends of said conductor section in questionbeing formed at one of the opposite heads thereof.
 9. Conductor sectionaccording to claim 7, comprising two connecting ends for connecting saidconductor section in series with other conductor sections, said twoconnecting ends of said conductor section in question being formedrespectively at the opposite heads thereof.
 10. Conductor sectionaccording to claim 7, wherein said at least one turn comprises severalturns.
 11. Conductor section according to claim 1, wherein saidconductor section is made of a plurality of adjacent and parallelconductors of rectangular cross section.
 12. A plurality of conductorsections according to claim 1, in combination with said stator frame,wherein:said stator frame is a circular shaped stator frame, and saidparallel slots provided therewith are circumferentially distributed,said frame having a surface adjacent to a rotor of said machine whensaid machine is assembled, said frame being separated from said rotor byan air gap; said plurality of conductor sections being connected inseries to form at least two stator windings, the two parallel conductorsides of each conductor section being respectively fitted into twocorresponding parallel slots of said stator frame; each of saidconductor sections includes at least one turn forming a coil; said atleast one conductor head of each of said conductor sections includes twoopposite heads located respectively at opposite ends of said twoparallel conductor sides; and each of said conductor sections includestwo connecting ends connecting via connecting contacts to said conductorsections in series, each of said connecting contacts being equidistantfrom the two connected conductor sections, said two connecting ends ofeach said conductor sections being formed at only one of the oppositeheads thereof.
 13. Conductor section according to claim 1, wherein saidconductor section is unitary.